Wood-heel-turning machine.



H. w. Russ. WOOD HEEL TURNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAvza, |911. vl'l.

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Patented Nov., 20, 191?.

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H. W- RUSS. WOOD HEEL TURNING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IfIAvza. Isn.

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Q-II z37'j M@ Patented Nov. 20, 191?.

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HARLEY w. RUSS, or HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

WOOD-HEEL-TURNING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2th 191i?.

Application led May 23, 1917. Serial No. 170,370.

-faces of the heel blank, this operation usually being the next which is performed after the heel has been grooved, or its breast surfaces formed. A

In the operation of turning the heel, the 'heel blank is clamped on a jack and its sides are brought into engagement with a rotary cutter successively, so as to trim the same from the breast to the back, at each side,'the `cut for each side always being started in at the breast and finished at the middle of theback. While the cutter blades are suitably curved to correspond, in a general way, to the form of surface desired, wide variations in the form of the surface produced may be, and are made by raising or lowering and tilting the jack with relation to the cutter, while the latter is operating on the blank.

Prior to my invention, the vertical and tilting movements of the jack with relation to the cutter have been accomplished by means of suitably Shaped guiding tracks or cams, but, with these machines, a diderent set of cams were necessary for each variation of heel, and as many variations are desired, it was necessary to provide a large number of these cams for each heel factory. Moreover these cams arediflicult to make, as they usually require much fitting and filing before they will produce the desired results. The object of my invention is to provide, in a machine of the character above referred to, a form of blank-holder or jack-- controlling means, which is adapted to be so adjusted that substantially all necessaryvariations, in the manner in which the jack' I accomplish this object by the employmentof means shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is Aa side elevation of the blank holder and its controlling means,'illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of said controlling means.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showingv results secured by different adjustments of said controlling means.

The inventionv forming the subject matter of this application is illustrated as applied to an automatically operating heelturning machine, which comprises a table mounted to rotate about a vertical axis and having four blank holders, or jacks, for holding the heel-blanks, disposed thereon 90 degrees apart, and a pair of rotary cutters,

mounted to rotate about vertical axes and disposed at diametrlcally opposite points with relation to the periphery of the table. Inthe operation of this machine the previously concaved blank is locked in a jack during a dwell in the rotary motion in the table, then the table is rotated through degrees and dwells again in front of a cutter, then the jack is rotated in one direction, through 90 degrees and one side of the blank is trimmed from breast to back, and a similar operation iS subsequently performed on the other side of the blank, when it is carried into engagement through another 90 degrees rotation being continued in the same direction as before, 'and then being reversed through 90 degrees while the second trimming operation is performed.

During each trimming operation, the jack is usually moved vertically and also tilted with relation to the axis of the cutter, which is operating on the blank held thereby, and the present invention concerns the particular means whereby the jack is raised or lowered or tilted in a predetermined manner during both portions of the trimming operation. For this reason only such parts as necessarily coperate with such means are illustrated.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the circular table, mounted to rotate upon a central vertical shaft 2, and 3 one of the two cutters, mounted to rotate on a vertical shaft 4, the latter being supported in a carriage 5 adapted to move horizontally toward and from the shaft 2, so as to carry the cutter transversely of its axis, so that the axes of the cutter shaft and the central shaft 2 are constantly held in the same vertical plane. A head 6 is .mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 7, journaled in the table, and, when the jack, which is mounted thereon, as hereafter described, is held in operative relation to the cutter, the shaft 7 is heldin the vertical plane of the shafts 2 and 4, and, so far as the present invention is concerned, it may be considered that the shaft 7 is journaled in fixed bearings in this position. A lcam 8 is also mounted on the shaft 7, directly beneath the head 6, in position to be engaged by the end of an arm 9 secured on the carriage 5, and to control the positions of the latter, which is constantly held vieldingly thereagainst.

The base 10 of the jack, which is mounted on the head 6, is pivotally connected thereto at one end by the pin 11, and is provided with a suitable blank-clamping means, which comprises the base member 12, mounted thereon directly over the pivot pin 11, and a movable member 13 adapted to be actuated by a cam lever 14. As the particular construction of the blank-clamping means shown constitute no part of my invention, further description thereof is unnecessary.

According to my invention I provide a pair of curved tracks 15 and 16, whichare 'concentrically arranged about the axis of the shaft 7, as a center, and extended throughout somewhat more than a semicircle. The inner track 15 is mounted on and connected at its ends to a plate 23, on the table 1, by a pair of horizontal pivots 17, and the outer track 16 is connected to the table by a pair of horizontal pivots 18. The plate 23 is connected to the table by bolts 24, which pass through slots 23 in the plate,

said slots extending in a direction to permit radial adjustment thereof with relation to the center of the table. As shown, the center lines of the pivots 17 and 18 are parallel, and are located between the axes of the shafts 4 and 7, with the line of the pivots 17 between the line of the pivots 18 and the shaft 7. The middle portion of the track 15 is adjustably supported by a pair of screws 19 threaded in the plate 23, and that of track 16, by a pair of screws 20, threaded in the table, so that, by raising and lowering said screws, saidtracks may be swung on their respective pivots and set at different angles, or inclinations with relation to the table. The head 6 has an arm 21 rigid therewith and arranged to rest on the inner track 15, and the base 10 has an arm 22 adjustably connected thereto and arranged to bear on the outer track 16.

The above described machine is especially adapted to turn wood heels of the French type, all of which have a much larger base than top, and usually are formed at the back on an ogee curve, and, at the side, a concave surface is frequently formed, so

that a waist portion is formed, which is slightly smaller than the top. This involves the use of a curved blade cutter, the diameter of which is considerably greater at one end than at the other. In practice, the base of the blank is clamped onto the base of the jack, so that the movable member of the clamp engages the top, as indicated in Fig. 1, consequently the cutter is arranged so that the portion thereof of greatest diameter is adjacent its upper end.

' At the beginning of the operation, the jack is swung to a position at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, so that the cam 8 thereon is turned to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, thereby presenting one side of the blank at thebreast, to the cutter, which is permitted to advance to the dotted line position of Fig. 2 by said cam 8.

i The shaft 7 is then rotated in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, and during the lirst 90 degrees of said revolution, one half of the side of the blank is trimmed. In the particular machine, in connection with which the invention is shown, the table carries the jack to another cutter, the rotation of the shaft 7 being first continued through another 90 degrees and then, as the blank is brought into engagement with this cutter, its direction of rotation is reversed, so that by the time it has been rotated back through 90 degrees, the other side of the blank will have been trimmed in like manner to that already described. It may, however, be considered that both sides are trimm-ed by the same cutter, so far as-the present invention is concerned; (although this is not 'practicable on account of the grain of the wood) the turning operation on one side of the blank being identical to that on the other.

In turning a heel of the form indicated in outline inv Fig. 1, the blank must be raised Y to some extent, las the operation proceeds, and at the same time the top of the blank must be tilted toward the cutter. The-lifting movement is necessary in order that the portion of deepest concavity may be formed in a plane approximately parallel to the base of the heel, which is so held that its base inclines downwardly from breast to back. This lifting operation is performed by the inner track or guide 15, upon which the arm 21, on the head 6, rides, as the shaft 7 is rotated. The extent to which this lifting movement is necessary depends on several factors, one of which is the relative pitch of the top to the base, of the particular heel to be formed, and another of which is the inclination at which the blank is held during the different portions of the operation, which is determined vby the extent of the tilting movement which causes the jack to beswung up on-its pivot 11, as the arm 22 rides up on the track 16. This tilting movement, which has the effect of carrying the topl of the blank toward the cutter, as the blank is turned, causes the cutter to make a cut of increasing length and of increasing depth at the top portion of the blank, as the operation proceeds.

It follows therefore, that the shape or contour,and area of the top of the blank will be varied according to the extent to which -the blank is tilted. It will also be varied by variations in the extent to which the blank is lifted, on account of the increase in diameter of the. cutter blades from the lower to the upper end thereof. rllhe cam 8 corresponds in shape to the shape of the base desired and does not substantially eHect the shape ofthe blank except at the base.

I have ascertained that practically all the changes in position, to which the blank must be subjected, are gradual andv in a uniform ratio, and I- have discovered that, by providing means whereby the inclinations of the tracks may be varied from al center, at one side of the point or positions at which the tracks are engaged when in lhe initial position, or at the beginning of the operation, all variations in form for ordinary standard heels, or heels having the general characteristics above referred to, may be secured. An adjustment, which complies with these requirements, is secured, by pivotally supporting the tracks adjacent, but beyond thc point from which the engaging arms 2l and 22 move at the beginning of the operation, so that, by swinging saidtracks on their respective pivots, their positions will be varied in the same ratio throughout all portions engaged by said arms. For example, ify the size of the top is to be reduced, the track 16 will be swung upward, and if no other part is adjusted, the top formed with the previous adjustment would be reduced somewhat at the breast and to an increasing amount from the breast to the back, and, if

the track 16 is swungdown from this point,

the converse result would be secured. For example, with the adjustment of Fig. 1 a top of relatively small area is produced, and, if the track 16 is lowered to the position of Fig. Ll, the area of the top would then be very substantially increased. By swinging up the inner track .15, other variations are secured, the blank being raised to a constantly increased extent during the turning operation, so that the portion of the cutter of the greater diameter operates nearer the base, and, as a consequence, the narrower portion, or waist will be formed nearer the base than before. Fig. 5 shows the inner track lowered from the position of Fig. l

with the track 16 in the position of Fig. l, so that the deeper portion of the concavity will be formed nearer the top than with the complete adjustment of Fig. 1. As a rule, a combination of adjustments of the tracks is employed to secure desired results, as an adj ustment of either, to an extent, aifects both the formation of the waist and the top. Further variations are secured by changing the position of the inner track s'o that its pivot is carried toward or from the axis of the shaft 7 on which the jack is mounted. By such adjustment the position of the middle of the groove, with relation to the base,

is changed, without changing its direction.-

with relation to the edge of the base, as before. By adjusting the arm 22, the initial inclination of the jack may be varied, Vas will be apparent. -The changes in shape, which may thus be secured, are practically infinite in-number.

In practice, when, after making adjustments as above indicated, a certain form of heel is produced, a protractor is placed on the table and the exact angle, at which each track, with relation to the table, is held, is determined, and also the position of thev plate 23 on the table, and of the arm 22, with relation to the jack, is noted, so'that, if at any future time it is again desired to form an exactly similar heel, it is merely necessary to adjust the parts according to the previously made record, the position of the cutting edges of the cutter being kept practically constant, that is, always being adjusted to move in the same path, and'changes in the cam 6 being made according to standard requirements.

I claim 1. machine for the purpose described comprislng a rotary cutter, a blank-holder arranged to be swung into different positions about the cutter, to trim one side of the blank, and a curved guide extending from points adjacent the cutter, and arranged to engage said holder to tilt it with relation to the axis of the cutter during its movement about the cutter and pivotally mounted at its end adjacent the cutter to be swung into different positions of adjustment, to vary the tilting movements of the holder in a predetermined ratio.

2. A machine for the purpose described comprising a cutter mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a support mounted to be swung horizontally with relation to said cutter and having a blank holder pivotally mounted thereon to swing vertically, to hold 'the blank at diiferent inclinations with relation to the cutter, a semi-circularly shaped guide arranged to engage said holder, duringl its horizontal movements, to control its ver- .j tically swinging movements, horizontally extending, pivotal supports for the ends of said guide beyond the portion thereof engaged by said holder and means to adjust said guide on its supports, to vary the 1nclination of its guiding surface in a predetermined ratio.

3. A machine for the purpose described comprising a rotary cutter of varying diameter, a'support mounted adjacent thereto and movable about an axis extending in approximate parallelism with the axis of the cutter, a blank-holder pivotally mounted on saidsupport to swing to and from the cutter, a pair of curved guides arranged to engage said support and said work-holder respectively, to move said support inl parallel relation to the cutter axis and to swing said holder 'to different ositions of inclination relative thereto, during the operation of the cutter on a blank held by the holder, pivotal supports for said guides adjacent and beyond the initial points of engagement of said support and holder with said guides, and means to adjust said guides on their supports, to different positions of inclination, to vary 'the movements of said support and holder in predetermined ratios.

4l A machine for the purpose described comprising a cutter of varying diameter mounted to rotate about a`vert1cal axis, a vertically movable support mounted to be swung horizontally with relation to said cutter and having a blank-holder pivotally mounted thereon, to Swin vertically, to hold the blank at different inc inations with relationto the cutter, a pair of concentrically disposed, semi-circularly shaped guides piv'- otally supported beyond their semi-circular portions and arranged respectively to vary the vertical position of said support and the inclination of said holder, durmg the operative movement thereof, and means to vary the inclination of said guides on their pivots, independently.

5. A machine for the purpose described comprising a cutter of varying diameter mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a vertically movable support mounted to be swung horizontally with relation to said cutter and having a blank-holder pivotally mounted thereon, to swin vertically, to hold the blank at different inc inations with relation to the cutter, a pair of curved guides arremesa ranged to be engaged by said support and inclination.

6. machine for the purpose described comprising a cutter of varying diameter mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a vertically movable support mounted to be swung horizontally with relation to said cutter and having a blank-holder pivotally mounted thereon, to swing vertically, to hold the blank at different inclinations with relation to the cutter, a pair of curved guides arranged to be engaged by said support and said holder, respectively, to vary the vertical position of l aid support and the inclination of said holder during the operative movement thereof, and pivotally supported beyond their engaged portions, to permit independent adjustment thereof to different inclinations, independent adjusting devices for varying the inclined positions of 'said guides, and means permitting transverse, horizontal adjustment of the pivotal support of the support-engaging guide.

7. machine for the purpose described comprlslng a cutter mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, a blank-holder arranged t0 be swung into different positions about the cutter, to trim one side of the blank, a curved guide extending from points adjacent the cutter and arranged to engage said holder to move the same vertically during its movement about the cutter, a support on which said guide is pivotally mounted at its end adjacent the cutter, 'to be swung into different posltions of adjustment, to vary the vertlcal movements of the holder in a predetermmed ratio, and means permitting adjustment of said support transversely of the axis of the cutter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

HARLEY W. RUSS.. 

